Students Perform in NYC Tartan Week
Dance students were given a taste of international performance on a recent trip to New York for NYC Tartan Week. Twenty students from Edinburgh College’s BA Honours and HND Dance courses travelled to New York this month where they performed live on stage in Central Park.
Tartan Week, which was set up to promote Scotland and Scottish events in New York, included a variety of events from Scottish fashion shows to the official Tartan Week Parade. During the six day trip, the Edinburgh College students also took the opportunity to hone their dance and performance skills at a number of dance master classes held at the Manhattan Movement and Arts Centre as well as the esteemed Steps on Broadway dance studios.
Cara Wong, 24 year old BA Honours Dance student from Edinburgh said: “I had a thoroughly enjoyable experience in New York and can’t wait to return. I have the utmost respect for Edinburgh College and the lecturers who have given me the support, foundation and so many opportunities to follow my dreams.
“My time in New York was a huge learning curve for me, I made an abundance of contacts and was inspired by the passion and enthusiasm of the dancers we met. It’s most definitely an experience that will live with me forever.”
Dance students from Edinburgh College spent three weeks preparing a unique four minute routine which fused urban dance with elements of traditional Scottish dancing and was performed in front of a welcoming New York crowd. For many of the students it was their first taste of performing on an international platform.
Central Park was the hub of all things Celtic, playing host to the annual 10k Scotland Run as well as featuring live music from Scottish alternative hip-hop group Stanley Odd and popular folk music band, Breabach.
Ethelinda Lashley-Johnstone, Dance Lecturer at Edinburgh College said: “The trip gave students the opportunity to gain vital practical experience within real parameters, working with an array of professionals in some of New York’s finest dance studios. It really was a once in a lifetime experience for the students involved and I believe it encouraged and motivated them to continue to strive towards performing internationally in the future.
“It also provided them with an opportunity to network and meet some of New York’s best dance teachers – who have already invited us back.”
The students had been fundraising since September for the much anticipated trip, organising car washes and bag packing at local supermarkets as well as hosting a successful Burns Supper Ceilidh. Students across Edinburgh College benefit from study and performance opportunities unrivalled in the sector. Previous students have performed live at the O2 Arena and collaborated in a concert with Jon Lord at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh while recent students have attended master classes in music and sound production with the producer of Oasis, and the mixing engineer for U2.
Edinburgh College was formed as a result of merger between Edinburgh’s Telford College, Jewel & Esk College and Stevenson College Edinburgh. As a £65m business, it is one of the biggest FE colleges in Scotland and accommodates more than 35,000 student enrolments – the biggest student body in Edinburgh.
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